Archetypes & Strange Attractors: The Chaotic World of Symbols (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts) [Paperback]

John R. Van Eenwyk (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Carl Jung believed that psychological development proceeds according to the influence of symbols in our lives. In stripping us of our old points of view so that growth can occur, symbols invariably feel chaotic. Now, with the advent of chaos theory, there is new support for Jung's perspective. Archetypes & Strange Attractors maps the correspondences between the dynamics of symbols in the psyche and the dynamics of chaos in the world of matter. Just as the material world oscillates between states of order and chaos, so also the individuation process involves stages of psychic balance and disruption. In both cases the great paradox holds: the wild dynamics of change are contained within a broader pattern -- the pattern of life itself. Archetypes & Strange Attractors is "must" reading for students of Jungian psychology, and any general reader with an interest in the application of chaos theory with developmental psychological phenomenon. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Inner City Books (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0919123767
• ISBN-13: 978-0919123762
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine example of a psychology-physics bridge, July 24, 2004

By 

D. J. Sapen - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Archetypes & Strange Attractors: The Chaotic World of Symbols (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts) (Paperback)

Bridging inquiry and speculation into the inner details of the psyche is seductive work. As with any seduction, it can lead to wonderful acts of creation and enjoyment, but also to messy thinking - fallacies of misplaced concreteness (Whitehead), in which the poetic pleasure of expressing parallels between psyche and cosmos can obscure both careful thinking and genuine insight into difficult realities. I find this to be a special danger in the world of Jungian concepts, primarily because the old wizard himself set the stage for exploring links between the science of mind and the mysteries that are not yet in the reach of a given science.

The math and physics of quantum and complexity theories, and of dynamic systems, are both extraordinarily demanding and extraordinarily revealing in their relevance to anything in the world that partakes of interaction, and owes and contributes its nature to other complex interactions. That is to say, anything in the world, seen out of isolation, without any excess of empirical or conceptual filtration. I've read Eenwyk's book twice now, and found it illuminating in both its intelligent and accessible handling of the physics and math involved, and of the fragile but necessary connections of the infinite dynamic of the mind and the world. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what a propitious book this is, November 23, 2008

By 

Hector Lasala (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Archetypes & Strange Attractors: The Chaotic World of Symbols (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts) (Paperback)

this book bridges cognitive domains as diverse as

physics and psychology,

spirituality and literature:

the result is an extremely valuable key

for anyone who longs to enter

a fully-integrated, -engaged existence.

here jungian insights are validated by chaos theory,

and spiritual growth and its attendant struggles are mirrored by folk-tales.

kierkegaard once said that life must be lived forward

but that it can only be understood by looking backwards;

this book clarifies and validates and

makes sense of much of the hardships in our past,

and thus strengthens our resolve to move forward

with much courage and faith and trust.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Es un libro inquietante, May 9, 2006

By 

Juan A. Alvarado "Jao" (Ecuador) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Archetypes & Strange Attractors: The Chaotic World of Symbols (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts) (Paperback)

Dentro de este libro se plantea la coneccion entra la teoria sicologica de Jung y la teoria de Caos. Como aquellos conceptos de simbolos, arquetipos, complejos de la teoria de Jung pueden ser traduccidos de manera sencilla a los conceptos de la teoria del caos como variedades, bifurcaciones, oscilaciones, fractales, etc.

En este libro se plantea la tesis que el caos es algo natural en nuestra siquis que una siquis sana es caotica !!!. Pero el caos de la siquis sana esta basado en un caos deterministico, el cual a su vez va generar un orden superior al que habia antes que existiese el caos, son los trances o las pruebas que tiene que para el individuo en su proceso de evolucion (el proceso individualizacion).

Este libro tambien hace un analisis literario en terminos de la teoria de caos de un cuento "La mujer de piedra" y un mito "Eros y Phique"